Molly: Party at mine tonight ! Who can make it?
Anna: You know me. I can always make it ; )
Tracy: Thank God! I'll definitely be there. I had a fight with Nathan 😑
Molly: What's he done now?
Tracy: I went through his phone.....
Anna: F*ck. What did you find?
.....
Molly: Pictures of a naked girl? 🤔
Tracy: You've guessed the wrong sex. 😣
Molly: F*CK!!!!!
Anna: I knew it! He paints your f*cking nails for you Tracy! And do your make up! How could you have not known?
Tracy : Idk!! He never had any problem getting his.....you know.....to do its thing.
Anna: Ugh. TMI.
Molly: Forget about him. You come to my apartment tonight, dressed to impress and I promise you by the end of the night you'll have forgotten about that dog!
Tracy: I hope so....
Tracy: Are you coming,Tessa? We haven't seen you since Patrick's birthday. Are you avoiding us?
I stare at my phone, the tips of my fingers strategically placed on either side of the phone. Should I go?
It was Saturday. My first week at Brainy College is officially over. I deserved to go out and enjoy myself. I've worked hard.
Anna: Reply bitch. We see you!
I grinned.
Me: See you tonight. 😏
I replied before I changed my mind.
Tracy: Yaaay!!
Molly: Yes!
Anna: Ooh! The bitches are back! 😎
Molly,Anna, Tracy and I shared an apartment when I first moved to New York. We were signed to the same agency so we worked together frequently.
Over the years we grew close and didn't go a day without talking to one another. Well, that was before the whole scandal and uproar it caused.
You have to be careful. Aunt Katie's words swirled in my mind, almost hauntingly. Was it worth the risk? I was supposed to be keeping a low profile but my parents never mentioned that I had to abstain from attending parties.
Anyways, I knew for sure that there would be no paparazzi.
Molly's a very private person and she's great at keeping the journalists guessing about her whereabouts.
The paparazzi had no idea where she lived let alone knowing that she was hosting a party.
Molly, like myself, had done well for herself in the modelling world but it was her high profile relationship with a teen pop star that really skyrocketed her fame.
She knew everything there was about keeping a low profile whilst under the scrutiny of the world. I would be safe.
I stayed undercover whilst leaving Wedefelt House. One thing I had learnt was that it's worse staying in disguise on the weekend compared to weekdays.
There were students everywhere.
Hanging around in the hallways, playing basketball in the reception area, smoking directly outside.
Teachers, on the other hand, disappeared during the weekends. I'm guessing they wanted to stay as far away from the school and this place as possible.
I definitely understood why they would.
Wedefelt House felt like a prison, over-populated and confined.
'Where to?' The cab guy grunted.
'Upper east side.' I replied, mimicking his rough voice.
I couldn't contain my excitement during the drive. Finally, I was able to return to my apartment, wear my own clothes and meet my friends.
It had only been a week since I had been undercover but it felt a lot longer.
The more time I spent in this awful get up and wig the further away I felt from myself. There was nothing wrong with letting loose once in a while.
''You're here,'' the cab guy said, looking at me suspiciously through his rear view mirror.
''Do I know you?'' He asked, his eyes continued to inspect me, ''I think I've seen you before.''
My mind froze. Think. Think !
''I don't think so. It's my first time visiting New York.'' My voice shook when I spoke.
''Are you sure?'' He asked again. God, he sure was persistent.
I nodded and opened the cab door.
''Thank you!'' I shrieked in a rush, forgetting all about my male voice. I threw the money at him and jumped out of the cab before he had the chance to ask me anything else.
Woah. That was close. My disguise was clearly not working. I had to change it up a bit. Maybe a mustache? Or glasses.
Yes, glasses were the better option. I could just imagine myself sneezing and blowing my moustache away.
I laughed and shuddered at the thought.
''Get out the way man!'' A man spat out whilst pushing past me.
My gaze followed him and watched in awe as he scurried past a couple, pushing them also, the man was crazy.
He finally stopped, joining a group of men gathered outside my apartment building.
They wore similar clothing, baggy, dark shirts and faded jeans, and clutched on to their cameras.
Paparazzi.
What were they doing outside my building?
They couldn't have known I was in New York. Nobody apart from Aunt Katie, my parents and Alex knew.
They could be waiting for someone else, I thought instantly. A lot of celebrities lived in this building.
Paparazzi waiting outside was nothing out of the ordinary.
I tugged at my wig, checking that it was firmly placed and covered all my hair. I closed my eyes, sighed and walked towards the building.
They won't recognise me. They won't . I kept telling myself but my increasing heartbeat said otherwise.
''Hey.'' I heard a gentle voice say from behind me.
I turned. A young girl holding up a bright pink iphone grinned at me. Her long, blonde hair and bright blue eyes screamed innocence but I was reluctant to return her smile.
''They won't let you in,'' she informed me, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
I crossed my arms, ''Why not?'' I questioned.
''The paparazzi have been waiting here since six o'clock in the morning. They won't let anyone by.''
I raised a single eyebrow, ''and who is it they're waiting for?''
The grin made its way back to the girl's face,
''Tessa Adams, of course. There are rumours that she's back in New York. I've been waiting for her too.''
My eyes widened in shock, ''You've been standing here since six in the morning?''
She nodded. Her cheeks reddened, ''Yeah, I did the same yesterday but nothing happened. I'm starting to think that she'll never come out.''
''She might not be in her apartment, you know?'' I suggested. The urge to take my wig off and hug this girl grew by the second.
The girl shrugged, ''Yeah, you're right. I just wanted to see her and tell her that I don't believe any of the online stuff. I think the drug photo is photoshopped.''
Guilt coursed through my body. I think the drug photo is photoshopped.
I really wish it was photoshopped.
I bent down so the girl and I were at eye-level.
''What's your name?'' I asked her.
''Madeline.''
'' Madeline,'' I repeated. It suited her. ''Do you want to know a secret?''
''Yeah!'' She replied eagerly.
''I happen to live in that building and I happen to know Tessa very, very
well.''
''No. Fricking. Way.''
I held in a giggle,
''Yes, way. Here...give me your phone and I'll put my number in. Text me a week before Christmas and I'll give you tickets for her show. What do you say?''
Madeline gasped, her bright blue eyes tearing slightly, ''You'll do that for me? Oh my God! I can't believe it!''
''Now Madeline.' I said, once she'd calm down, 'I need your help.''
''What can I help you with?'' She replied, without a second thought.
My smile grew wide. Looks like I was going to find a way in after all.